Door fastener



March 26, 1940. s, FlLLMORE 2,194,789

DOOR FASTENER Filed April 5, 19 39 INVENTOR.

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I ATTORN Patented Mar. 26, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT] OFFICE" Y 1 2,194,789 I I I DOOR FASTENER Ralph S. Fillmore, Bakersfield, Calif.

Application April 5, 1939, Serial No. 266,159

3 Claims.

My invention relates to an improved fastener for doors or other enclosure members and particularly although not exclusively for use with screen doors. The primary object is to provide a fastener of the hook type which when not in use will automatically fold and remain folded in a position close to its support out of the way so as not to obstruct the closing of a door or catch upon the clothing of persons using the door. A further'object is to provide a structure which will perform the function stated and which functions as a strong and secure fastener for a door or other closure member when in use. Still further objects are the production of a device of the kind tion and which is not subject to disorder under severe service.

In the accompanying drawing forming part of this specification, Fig. l is a perspective View illustrating the application of the fastener and showing the same in hooked position when securing a door closed; Fig. 2 is an elevational View showing my improved fastener applied to a door and illustrating it when unhooked and in folded position; Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the hook and its spring, when removed from its hinge leaf support; Fig. 4 is a perspective View looking at the back of the base plate, and Fig. 5 is an elevation of an alternative construction of the base plate and hinge leaf which may be used with my invention. I In the drawing, for convenience'in illustrating the application of my improvement, a fragment of a screen door A or similar closure and its cooperating jam B is shown. My improved fastener includes a suitable base plate C which has detents II at one end for engaging the side of the door frame and a screw receiving opening l2 for aiding in fastening the base plate upon the door. Upon the base plate is pivotally secured by the screw l3, which passes through the hole I2 in the base plate, a hinge leaf D, the body of which swings in the plane of the baseplate. The outer end of this hinge leaf is provided with a substantially vertical pintle receiving head or socket l4 and the inner end has a slot l5 which receives the shank of the screw I 6, the latter passing through an opening [6' in the base plate and serving to limit the swinging movement of the hinge leaf and at the same time assist in holding the base and hinge leaf on the door. The outer end of the hinge leaf carries the lock member E which comprises a shank I! having the hook l8 on its outer end and a pintle l9 stated which is strong and durable in construc'-.

extended substantially at right angles from the shank on its supporting end. In this manner the hook is hinged to turn on the hinge leaf substantially horizontally and with the hinge leaf swings in a vertical plane, thus enabling the hook to be freely manipulated into juxtaposition, that is in a position to engage the keeper F on the door jam or casing. can-be easily fastened closed. When the lock member E is swung up out of engagement with the keeper F, a coiled spring 2|] swings and holds the lock member back and folded out of the way In this manner the door so as not to obstruct the closing movement of I the door or catch the clothing of the users of the door. upper end of the pintle l9 and has one end fastened to the shank of the lock member E and its opposite end fixed to the head'end of the The stop it permits the free move-' hinge leaf. ment of the fastening member vertically toengage and disengage the keeper but precludes ex-' cessive movement.

It will be observed that with afastener embodying the features above set forth the lock member E, when released from the keeper will immediately move automatically to 'a position which will preclude an unintentional or acci dental engagement of the lock member E with its keeper F when the door is closed. When desired.

This spring is threaded freely over the the rigid stop screw it can be substituted by other means not employing a screw.

In Fig. 5, I have shown an alternative-construction in which the base plate 26' is fastened,

to the door by screws 2i instead of a single screw performing the double function of acting as a pivot for the hinge leaf and of acting as a holder for securing the base and'hinge plates on the door. Also the hinge leaf 22 which'is secured by the pivot-fastener 23 on the base plate and door is limited in its swinging movement by the pair of stops 24 on the base plate instead of the .pin and slot shown in the preferred construction.

In the drawing I have illustrated my improve ment constructed for use on a left hand swinging door and I wish it understood that it can be changed and reversed so as to operate on a right hand swinging door without altering the prim cured to and adapted to swing in aplane parallel to the base plate and provided at'its outer end with an upright socket, a fastening element having a shank, a hook on its outer end and a pintle extended downwardly on its inner end and journaled in said socket whereby the fastening element is adapted to swing freely substantially in a horizontal plane and to fold backwardly over the base plate, said hook being adapted to engage a keeper secured to a second closure member in the outer position of the fastening element when swung in a vertical plane with the latter, and resilient means between the hinge plate and fastening element urging the fastening element into folded position and permitting the fastening element to swing on the hinge plate into engagement with said keeper.

2. In a structure as defined in claim 1, the hinge plate being provided with stop means adapted to limit its swinging movement.

3; In a structure as defined in claim 1, the resilient means consisting of a spring looped around the pintle and having one end anchored to the shank of the fastening element and its 10 opposite end anchored to the hinge plate.

RALPH S. FILLMORE. 

